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Saturday, August 21, 2010

REVIEW: She's My Dad by Iolanthe Woulff

It's been nearly a month since I posted a book review, so I wanted to take a few minutes this morning to offer up a quickie.

You know the old adage about never judging a book by it's cover? Well, this is one of those instances where I found myself twice passing over what turned out to be a wonderful novel. The title is cute and kind catchy, but it doesn't at all reflect the depth of the story within. With She's My Dad you get the literary equivalent of the kind of prime time drama you might find on Showtime, HBO, or the BBC.

Much of the story revolves around a conflict between Windfield College (a wonderfully diverse institution where the LGBTQ community is not just welcome, but founding members) and the surrounding conservative North Virginia town. Key characters include Nickie Farrell (the school's first transsexual professor), Collie Skinner (the son she doesn't know she has), Cinda Vanderhart (the lesbian student journalist who 'outs' the professor and her secrets), Jo Markwith & Alex Steward (faculty members in love with Nickie), and Eamon Douglass (the dying ambassador who wishes to bring down Nickie, the college, and everything it stands for).

Like any good prime time drama, there's an equal mix of soap opera, mystery, and thriller involved. Highly Recommended!
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